Two charged for pursuit

Monday

Two people have been charged with aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer in connection to a pursuit that occurred Friday in Leavenworth County, according to a prosecution official.

Two people have been charged with aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer in connection to a pursuit that occurred Friday in Leavenworth County, according to a prosecution official.

During the pursuit, shots reportedly were fired at a deputy's patrol vehicle.

Anthony J. Robertson, 33, Leavenworth, faces charges of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, criminal discharge of a firearm at an occupied vehicle, criminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer, according to County Attorney Todd Thompson.

Shauntel M. Cornelius, 28, Leavenworth, is charged with aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, interference with a law enforcement officer and littering.

The pursuit began around 4:45 p.m. Friday at 207th Street and Kansas 92 Highway, according to Leavenworth County Undersheriff Jim Sherley.

The driver of a Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck allegedly ran a stop sign. The driver, who has been identified as Robertson, reportedly overcorrected as he sped through the intersection and the truck entered the same lane as a patrol vehicle driven by a Leavenworth County sheriff's deputy. The truck almost struck the patrol vehicle head-on, according to Sherley.

The deputy then began pursuing the truck, which headed west on K-92.

During the pursuit, Robertson allegedly fired several shots from the pickup truck.

Cornelius, who was a passenger in the truck, allegedly threw items from the bed of the truck onto the roadway. The items included a tire and toolbox.

Sherley believes these items were thrown onto the road in an attempt to wreck the pursuing patrol vehicle or slow it down.

The truck turned off the state highway onto 235th Street. The truck later turned onto 4-H Road.

The truck eventually came to a stop in a field in the area of 243rd Street and 4-H Road after traveling over rocky terrain, according to Sherley.

Robertson and Cornelius allegedly fled on foot.

Deputies from the Sheriff's Office and troopers from the Kansas Highway Patrol searched the area for the suspects.

Canines from the KHP and Shawnee Police Department were used in the search. An airplane also was used in the search.

Officers searched the area until late Friday night. Officers also contacted residents in the area to advise them of the possible threat, according to Sherley.

Officers began searching the area again around 10 a.m. Saturday after the suspects reportedly had been sighted.

Robertson and Cornelius were apprehended around 2:30 p.m. Saturday. They were located in the area of 255th Street and 4-H Road, according to Sherley.

Robertson and Cornelius had separate appearances Monday afternoon in Leavenworth County District Court. At the time of their court appearances, they had not yet been officially charged. But charges were filed later in the afternoon.

"We are glad no one was hurt," Thompson said in a news release.

Twitter: @LVTNewsJohnR

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